Valley students walk out to protest principal's departure

April 12, 2011

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Students from Valley High School in Santa Ana that left school to protest the sudden departure of Principal Felicity Swerdlow, start to run with the arrival of the Santa Ana School police. MICHAEL GOULDING, THE ORANGE COU

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Students from Valley High School in Santa Ana left school and marched down Glenwood Place and the nearby neighborhood to protest the sudden departure of Principal Felicity Swerdlow. MICHAEL GOULDING, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Students from Valley High School in Santa Ana that left school to protest the sudden departure of Principal Felicity Swerdlow, start to run with the arrival of the Santa Ana School Police. MICHAEL GOULDING, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Students from Valley High School run with the appearance of the of the Santa Ana School Police. MICHAEL GOULDING, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Santa Ana School Police shepherd a Valley High School student through the neighborhood Tuesday. MICHAEL GOULDING, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Santa Ana School Police shepherd a Valley High School students through the neighborhood during their protest Tuesday. MICHAEL GOULDING, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Some student were able to get back on campus after the protest ended. MICHAEL GOULDING, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Most of the students that left campus were denied access back to school for the day. MICHAEL GOULDING, THE ORANGE COU

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Most of the students that left campus were denied access back to school for the day. MICHAEL GOULDING, THE ORANGE COU

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Former Valley High School Principal Felicity Swedlow. Swerdlow resigned suddenly on Monday, April 11. She had been principal of Valley, one of the county's lowest-performing schools, since 2009.

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Students from Valley High School in Santa Ana that left school in protest of the sudden departure of Principal Felicity Swerdlow, start to run with the arrival of the Santa Ana School police. MICHAEL GOULDING, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Students from Valley High School in Santa Ana that left school to protest the sudden departure of Principal Felicity Swerdlow, start to run with the arrival of the Santa Ana School police. MICHAEL GOULDING, THE ORANGE COU

SANTA ANA − More than 300 Valley High School students stormed out of their school at about 1 p.m. Tuesday and marched along Greenville Street to Glenwood Place to protest the sudden departure of Principal Felicity Swerdlow.

Crowd estimates, at one point, ranged up to 1,000 for the protest. But later estimates suggested at most about 500 students participated in the 40-minute demonstration. School officials put the crowd at about 300 of the Valley High School's 2,400-student population.

Students praised Swerdlow as a caring and supportive leader, with a few dozen chanting "Bring back Mrs. Swerdlow" during the protest.

"Mrs. Swerdlow made our school so much better. She made test scores go up, she made the number of dropouts go down. And she made a lot of students want to go to school," said Jesse Fernandez, a junior.

Some students expressed doubt as to whether Swerdlow actually resigned, suggesting she was forced to quit.

"We're really angry that our principal was forced to resign. She was very well liked," said Oscar Jimenez, a sophomore.

Students speculated Swerdlow may have been forced out because she championed their needs over district rules and policies, putting herself at odds with the superintendent and trustees.

Burrell, who arrived at the end of the protest, said the district cannot comment about Swerdlow's departure because it is a personnel matter.

Burrell said it is not yet known how the students who walked out will be disciplined, but said they are expected to return to school Wednesday.

About a dozen police cars and motorcycle officers were on hand during the protest, primarily to control traffic and to ensure student safety. There were no arrests, injuries or other incidents.

The district on Tuesday appointed Patrick Yrarrazaval-Correa as the school’s new principal. Yrarrazaval-Correa, who earned $114,268 in 2009-10, had previously served as principal at Carr Intermediate.

The district also named retired Santa Ana High Principal Daniel Salcedo as interim principal at Carr until a permanent replacement can be found. Yrarrazaval-Correa's appointment to Valley is permanent.

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